Wang Yaoqing (Peking opera)
{{For|the Taiwanese actor|Wang Yaoqing}}
{{Infobox Chinese|
| s = 王瑶卿
| t = 王瑤卿
| p = Wáng Yáoqīng
| w = Wang Yao-ch'ing
| pic = Wang_Yaoqing_as_a_qingyi.jpg
| caption = Wang Yaoqing plays Queen Mother Xiao in Yanmen Pass.{{efn|name=yanmen|Yànmén guān,《雁门关》.}}}}
Wang Yaoqing{{efn|Wáng Yáoqīng, 王瑶卿}} (28 December 1881 – 3 June 1954) was a Chinese actor and singer noted for playing the role of a virtuous adult woman, or qingyi,{{efn|name=qingyi|Qīngyī, 青衣, lit. "verdant-clad."}} the most important role in Peking opera. He was from Qingjiangpu District, Huai'an in eastern Jiangsu Province.{{cite journal |author= Wang Kaihao |url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/culture/2016-12/29/content_27815049.htm |title= Symposium marks birth anniversary of Peking Opera guru Wang Yaoqing |journal= China Daily |date= 29 Dec 2016}}
Wang was noted for his skills as a long-sleeved dancer, for sword dancing, and for his portrayal of a stylish Manchu lady. He was president of the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts from 1951 to 1954. He taught many other actors, including Mei Lanfang, the best-known singer of the genre.{{citation |last=Wang |first=Ningning |year=2019 |title=A History of Ancient Chinese Music and Dance |publisher=American Academic Press |isbn=9781631816345|page=479}}
Biography
Wang's father, Wang Xuanyun,{{efn|name=wang|Wáng Xuànyún, 王绚云}} was an actor in Kun Opera.{{cite book |author=Rolston, David |title= Inscribing Jingju/Peking Opera: Textualization and Performance, Authorship and Censorship of the "National Drama" of China from the Late Qing to the Present |year=2021 |isbn= 978-9004463394 |page=274}} He died when Yaoqing was 10. Yaoqing learned female impersonation from Tian Baolin.{{efn|name=tian|Tián Bǎolín, 田宝琳}}"王瑶卿", Baidu.
In 1894, Wang performed in The Pagoda,{{efn|Jìtǎ,《祭塔》.}} his first play. In 1896, the Cheng Troupe was formed with Wang as a member.{{cite journal |url= https://history.xikao.com/event/7414 |title= 事件：喜庆戏班报庙 (Event: Festive Theatrical Troupe Reporting the Temple) |journal= Temple Festive Troupe Newspaper |date= 6 Nov 1896}}. In 1897, he married the daughter of Yang Duoxian.{{efn|Yáng Duǒxiān, 杨朵仙}} His acting troupe disbanded during the Boxer Rebellion of 1900. Afterwards, he joined the Fushou Troupe.
In 1904, Wang was summoned to the palace and asked to set lyrics written by Empress Dowager Cixi to music. He was awarded thirty taels for this.
Wang registered to play for the imperial household. His role as a Manchu lady in Incident at Fen River Bend{{efn|Fénhé Wān,《汾河弯》.}} was appreciated by Cixi. He joined the Tongqing Troupe in 1905. With partner Tan Xinpei, Wang introduced various innovations to the qingyi role, including a greater range of facial expression and stylized body movement."Wang Yao-ch'ing," {{citation|last=Boorman|first=Howard L.|year=1967|title=Biographical Dictionary of the Republic of China|publisher=Columbia University Press |volume=III |page=398 |isbn=9780231089579}}
Wang's other notable roles include Fourth Son Visits His Mother,{{efn|name=silang|Sìláng tàn mǔ,《四郎探母》.}} The Wujia Slope,{{efn|name=wujia|Wǔjiā pō,《武家坡》.}} Nantian Gate,{{efn|name=nantian|Nántiān mén,《南天门》.}} Goose Gate Pass, Mulan Joins the Army, Story of a White Snake, and Story of Willow Shade."Wang Yaoqing," {{citation |last=Tan |first=Ye |year=2020 |title=Historical Dictionary of Chinese Theater |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |page=359| isbn= 9781538120644}}
Wang's voice deteriorated early. His last performance was in 1926 in Shanghai.{{cite journal |url=https://history.xikao.com/event/339 |title= 事件：言菊朋二次赴沪演出 (Event: Yan Jupeng performed in Shanghai for the second time) |journal= Longevity Mirror |date= May 21, 1926}}. The reviewer complained that, "Yaoqing lost his voice and Jupeng is too tender." In the 1930s, he was a teacher at the Chinese Opera Academy.{{efn|name=zhonghua|Zhōnghuá xìqǔ zhuānkē xuéxiào, 中华戏曲专科学校.}} This school was disbanded in 1941.
Wang was also a noted theater critic. He came up a set of four characters to describe the "four great dan." (A dan is a female impersonator.){{cite journal |author=Zhang Kun |url= http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/201804/07/WS5ac7ce95a3105cdcf6516873.html |title= The stories behind the four great actors |journal= China Daily USA |date= 7 April 2018}} Wang served as president of the National Academy of Chinese Theater Arts, which was established in 1950. He died in 1954.
More than sixty of Wang's manuscripts were left at Gumei Studio, his residence. He often collaborated with Chen Moxiang. Wang would set Chen's lyrics to music.
A sound recording series of his work aimed at schoolchildren entitled Wang Yaoqing Talks about Opera was released in 1961.{{citation|last=Wang|first=Yaoqing|year=1961|title=Wáng yáo qīng shuō xì,《王瑶卿说戏》|publisher=Tai bei xian san chong shi (女王唱片)}} In 2016, there was a concert at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing to honor Wang's 135th birthday.{{cite journal |url=https://xiqu.cctv.com/2016/12/29/ARTIfs75TSvNPTLgP5hPfSXE161229.shtml |title= 弘扬国粹传承历史：纪念京剧大师王瑶卿诞辰135周年] (Carrying forward the national quintessence and inheriting history: commemorating the 135th anniversary of the birth of Beijing opera master Wang Yaoqing) |journal= Youth Commune |date= 30 Dec 2016}}
Notes
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References
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External links
- [https://v.qq.com/x/page/s0398ndwy04.html 话京剧-王瑶卿2], Peking Opera-Wang Yaoqing 2 (video)
- [https://www.163.com/dy/article/GLPCVIMJ0534LJ7C.html 王瑶卿先生《三堂会审》1961年珍贵说戏录音 中国唱片]. Pictures and a ten minute audio of Wang.
- [https://history.xikao.com/person/%E7%8E%8B%E7%91%B6%E5%8D%BF 人物：王瑶卿] (Wang Yaoqing), 梨园百年琐记 (A Hundred Years of Notes). This bio features an extensive list of notices in the contemporary Chinese media.
Further reading
- Wang Yaoqing, "Wo de Youdian shidai" (My Youth), Juexue yuekan, 2.3, (1933): 17-19. Autobiographical material.
- Shi Ruoxu et al, 1985, Wáng Yáoqīng yìshù pínglùn jí 王瑶卿艺术评论集 (Collected essays on the Art of Wang Yaoqing), Beijing, Zhongguo Yishu.
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